AAA: SWB rained out
AA: Trenton rained out.
High A: Tampa (63-71) split a DH.
Reg. sched. game: Lost 4-0, getting just 2 hits. SS Diego Castillo’s 3 errors led to 3 unearned runs.
Makeup of 8/27 rainout: Won 5-3. Castillo 2 hits, RBI. 1B Steven Sensley 2 hits, 2 RBI.
Low A: Charleston (69-66) lost 8-5. LF Canaan Smith 2 hits, .306. RF Josh Stowers 2 RBI. C Eduardo Navas 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2 solo HR.
Posted in Mike's Musings, Minor Leagues, Players, Regular Season
From MLB.com
Yankees (Surprise): Daniel Bies, RHP; Glenn Otto, RHP; Donny Sands, C; Josh Stowers, OF; Brandon Wagner, 1B
Acquired from the Mariners in an offshoot of the Sonny Gray trade in January, Stowers has a chance to have four average or better tools, with his arm the lone exception. Otto has had difficulty staying healthy but can reach 97 mph and devastate hitters with his curveball when he’s at 100 percent.
Posted in Mike's Musings, Minor Leagues, Players
Game 4 of the ALCS was postponed due to rain Wednesday night and rescheduled for Thursday night.
The schedule now is
Game 4 8 PM Thursday
Game 5 7 PM Friday
Game 6 8 PM Saturday if needed
Game 7 7:30 PM Sunday if needed.
The Yanks will now go with Tanaka in 4, Paxton in 5. Houston also bumped up their starters to Greinke in 4, Verlander in 5.
Down 2 games to 1, Game 4 is a must win for the Yanks. They don’t want to be down 3-1 and then have Verlander staring them down in Game 5.
Will the rainout help or hurt? Some guys slumping, like Sanchez and Encarnacion, may benefit from the day off to clear their heads. Maybe, maybe not.
Sometimes a rainout turns a series around. Consider the 1951 WS for example. The NY Giants, fresh off the “shot heard ’round the world” by Bobby Thomson to win the NL pennant, took a 2 games to 1 lead over the Yankees, then a rainout reset the Yanks, who then won the next three games.
So you never know. Sometimes a rainout is what a team needs, sometimes not.
There is a good post on MLB.com asking why if he can’t start, is Stanton still on the roster and why haven’t the Yanks replaced him. Check it out. One reason is if they replace him, he won’t be eligible for the WS then. But the heck with that. In order to get to the WS, you have to worry about winning THIS round first.
Joe Maddon, who took Tampa Bay to a WS and who won the WS with the Cubs three years ago, now tries his hand with the Angels, who hired him as manager today.
Posted in Managers and Coaches, Mike's Musings, Players, Postseason
Since May 22, Gerrit Cole has been unbeatable, going 19-0 in 25 starts with a 1.59 ERA. Incredible.
He was vulnerable against the Yankees, giving up 5 walks and 4 hits in his seven innings of work, but no runs.
Luis Severino was OK, but gave up a HR in the first to Jose Altuve (Altuve kills the Yankees) and another in the second to Josh Reddick and that is all Cole needed. Houston wins Game 3 of the ALCS, 4-1, and is up two games to one in the series.
The Yanks have a couple of problems. For one, manager Aaron Boone has to wonder if he should bench Gary Sanchez and start Austin Romine instead. Sanchez is 1 for 13 in this series with six strikeouts. For the whole postseason, he is 2 for 21 with 10 strikeouts. He also couldn’t block a WP that enabled Houston to score a run.
In a post-game interview, Boone said no when asked about going to Romine. I think he may be making a mistake.
Another is Adam Ottavino, who came into Game 3 with the score 2-0 in the top of the seventh. Ottavino isn’t getting anyone out and gave up a walk and a single before being pulled. Both runners later scored. Boone said he’ll continue to use him…. what else is he going to say?
Ottavino’s numbers this postseason: 2 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 W, 3 K. 1 HR given up. He’s faced 16 batters and 9 have reached base. You just can’t trust him in tight games anymore. At least not now.
There is no time in the postseason to hope. It’s do or die. It’s why Joe Torre once benched Wade Boggs, Tino Martinez AND Paul O’Neill for the same game (replacing them in the lineup with Charlie Hayes, Cecil Fielder and Darryl Strawberry).
Cleanup hitter Edwin Encarnacion is also slumping. 1 for 12 with 6 strikeouts in this series. Maybe he needs to be dropped in the lineup.
The one constant is Gleyber Torres. The only Yankees’ run came on a HR by Torres in the eighth inning. He is 10 for 24 this postseason with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Maybe Boone should just keep him in the 3 spot. He batted fifth in Game 3, probably to try to protect Encarnacion and hopefully get Edwin going.
But that meant Brett Gardner hit third. Now the Yanks did get singles from D.J. LeMahieu and Aaron Judge to lead off the bottom of the first, but Gardner flied out. The Yanks didn’t score. Maybe Gardner should have bunted the runners over there. I know you are thinking big inning, but this is Cole on the mound, and Gardner is not your prototypical #3 hitter (like a Ruth, DiMaggio, Maris or Mantle), and who knows, maybe Gardner beats it out. Just saying. Gardner is 2 for 13 in this series with five strikeouts.
Didi Gregorius JUST MISSED putting the Yanks up 3-2 with a two-out drive with two on in the fifth that was caught at the wall. Tough break. Didi is 1 for 12 in this series.
The forecast is for rain. There is a very strong chance Game 4 gets rained out tonight. If so, I believe the Yanks HAVE to come back with Tanaka then for Game 4 on regular rest (and in his six innings on Saturday, he only threw 68 pitches in Game 1) to try to even the series and avoid going down three games to one.
The Yanks only had five hits in the game. In their last 20 innings, they’ve scored just three runs.
LeMahieu 2 hits
Torres HR, 2 walks
Aaron Hicks, starting his first game in over 2 months, walked twice.
Severino (LOSS) 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR
Green 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Ottavino 0 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1 WP that scored a run.
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K.
Who’d have thought Cessa would be out-pitching Ottavino this postseason?
Hopefully some of these Yankees’ bats heat up.
Also, hopefully Boone makes some right, and maybe necessary, tough decisions to shake the Yanks up.
Washington won the NLCS by beating St. Louis 7-4 last night, scoring all seven runs in the bottom of the first. With the four game sweep, the Nationals go to their first WS in franchise history, going back to 1969 when they were the Montreal Expos 1969-2004 before moving to Washington.
For D.C., it’ll host their first WS games since 1933 when the old Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) won the AL pennant but lost the WS to the NY (now SF) Giants.
Howie Kendrick was named the NLCS MVP.
So whoever wins the ALCS knows they’ll have to face Washington with its trio of Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin (not to mention Anibal Sanchez).
Washington, D.C. has been part of three World Series—in 1924, 1925 and 1933, when the original Washington Senators (who became the Minnesota Twins in 1961) won the AL pennant in those years, and the World Series in 1924. Walter Johnson, near the end of his career, was on the 1924 and 1925 teams.
The current Washington Nationals team came from Montreal, where from 1969-2004 they were the Montreal Expos. This franchise has never made it to the World Series.
They are one win away after an 8-1 win over the suddenly punchless St. Louis Cardinals. The Nationals lead the series three games to none and could make it a sweep tonight.
Houston has their threesome of Verlander, Cole and Grienke, but Washington’s trio of Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin is right up there.
Strasburg went seven, and gave up just one unearned run while striking out 12.
Howie Kendrick, whose grand slam in Game 5 of the NLDS doomed the Dodgers, had 3 hits and 3 RBI last night.
Long-time National Ryan Zimmerman drove in two runs.
Game 4 of this series is tonight.
Game 3 of the ALCS between the Yanks and Astros is at 4 this afternoon.
Posted in Ex-Players, Mike's Musings, Players, Postseason
Tagged Corbin, Johnson, Kendrick, Scherzer, Strasburg, Zimmerman
Nice year for James Paxton, 15-6, 3.82, ERA+ 116. But you have to think the Yanks, when they got him, expected more than a total of 7 innings in 2 postseason starts, don’t you?
He’s got to be able to give more length next time out.
So when WILL next time out be? While Game 3 is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4 PM, it is looking like Game 4 could be postponed.
Heavy rains are forecast for all, or most of the day Wednesday. This could work to the Yanks’ benefit, or maybe eventually against it, especially with how hard they are expected to utilize their bullpen. They could get an unscheduled off day between Games 3 and 4. However, there then may NOT be an off day between Games 5 and 6. We’ll see, and Aaron Boone and his coaching staff may need to do some readjusting.
The Yanks need to make a decision on Stanton soon. They could put him on the injured list, activate Voit, but if that is done, Stanton won’t be eligible for the WS roster.
Posted in Managers and Coaches, Mike's Musings, Players, Postseason
Justin Verlander was as tough as we thought he’d be. But the Yanks still had a chance to go up 2-0 in the series. Instead, they lost to Houston 3-2 in 11 innings and head home with the ALCS tied at a game apiece.
The problem is, certain guys not having good postseasons so far continued not to produce, and that hurt the Yanks in Game 2. See below.
James Paxton didn’t last long, giving up a run in the second, and getting knocked out in the third inning.
Aaron Judge hit a 2-run HR in the fourth for the Yanks’ only two runs of the game.
Chad Green did a great job in relief of Paxton, but Adam Ottavino, in relief of Green, gave up a HR on his very first pitch in the bottom of the fifth and the game was tied at two.
In the bottom of the eleventh, J.A. Happ gave up a HR to Carlos Correa on his first pitch of the inning, and the game was over. A tough, extra-inning loss, where a win would have put Houston’s backs against the wall what with the next three games in the Bronx.
Before the game, it was announced that Giancarlo Stanton had a quad strain, is day to day and was out of the Game 2 lineup. Cameron Maybin, who had a hit and a walk, replaced him. Aaron Hicks replaced Maybin later in the game.
Ottavino hasn’t had a good postseason so far. In 2 1/3 IP, he’s only given up 1 R, but on 5 H, 2 walks.
Gary Sanchez is 2 for 17 this postseason.
Edwin Encarnacion had a decent series against the Twins, but is 0 for 8 with 6 strikeouts against Houston.
Hopefully the off-day today (The NLCS will play Game 3 tonight) will give those players time to regroup and get right.
Game 3 features Severino vs. Cole. With tight games like this, not only do you need great pitching, which the Yanks so far have gotten for the most part (3 runs given up in 19+ innings) but you also have to play littleball, knowing you probably aren’t going to score many runs off of Houston.
Judge 2-run HR
Encarnacion 0 for 4, 3 strikeouts.
Sanchez 0 for 5, 3 strikeouts.
Paxton 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 K.
Green 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Ottavino (BS) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Kahnle 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Sabathia 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Loaisiga 0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K.
Happ (LOSS) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up walkoff HR.
Hard-fought game. Tough loss.
To get to the WS, the Yanks have to beat Verlander and Cole. They had a chance last night to win a game Verlander started. They didn’t do it, although they came close. That hurts.
Now to try to get one against Cole.
Masahiro Tanaka came into the game with the rep of being a big-game postseason pitcher with a 1.54 ERA.
That ERA was lowered Saturday night with a brilliant, one-hit, shutout performance over six innings as the Yankees beat the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS, 7-0.
Gleyber Torres continues to remind people of Derek Jeter when it comes to his poise, maturity, and delivering in a key moment at such a young age. Torres drove in five of the Yankees’ seven runs.
The Yanks scored first in the fourth inning when D.J. LeMahieu singled, went to second on a WP and scored on a Torres double.
In the bottom of the fifth, Aaron Judge caught a liner and doubled off the runner on first. Great defensive play.
Home runs by Torres and Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth made it 3-0 Yankees.
With two out in the seventh, Gio Urshela and D.J. singled. Judge singled to load the bases and Torres dunked in a single to make it 5-0.
In the ninth, Urshela homered to make it 6-0. An out later, LeMahieu walked and Judge singled him to third. Judge stole second, and Torres’ RBI groundout made it 7-0.
LeMahieu 2 hits, scored 3 runs.
Judge 2 hits, made the great defensive play for a DP
Torres 3 hits, HR, 5 RBI
Stanton 2 hits, solo HR
Urshela 2 hits, solo HR
Tanaka (WINNER) 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K. Brilliant
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
In the NLCS Game 2, St. Louis is in trouble. They lost both Games 1 and 2 at home and are down 0-2 in the series. In the two games the Cardinals have a TOTAL of four hits. They lost Game 2, 3-1. Max Scherzer 7 IP, 1 H, 11 K. Adam Wainwright pitched well for St. Louis, 11 K in 7 1/3, but the Cards bats are dead.
Adam Eaton 2 RBI for Washington, and a solo HR for Michael Taylor.
The Yankees have finalized their ALCS roster. Coming on are CC Sabathia and Aaron Hicks and coming off are Luke Voit and Tyler Wade.
The Yanks are going with 13 pitchers.
I think that they are going with the pitching (13) and defense, and expect low scoring games against Houston’s staff. If so, Gardner LF, Hicks CF, Stanton DH, Encarnacion 1b with DJ at 3b, and if they have a late inning lead, then DJ goes to 1b and Gio goes in at 3b. Either that or keep it as it was, but Maybin/Hicks d for Stanton late in game. But I would go with the first scenario. Dh Stanton. Have good D all around (save for maybe Edwin at 1B) then sub out Edwin later.
So my lineup would be:
DJ 3B
Judge RF
Gardner LF
Encarnacion 1B
Stanton DH
Torres 2B
Sanchez C
Gregorius SS
Hicks CF
Hicks hasn’t played since August 3. It may be a case of whatever he gives you offensively you take, but just cover the ground and play good defense. I also like him ninth because of his speed. He can steal, you can hit and run with him with DJ, there are nice options there.
The Astros front three of Greinke, Verlander and Cole seems to be better than the Yanks, but I wonder about something this time of year. They have been better than Tanaka, Paxton and Severino but will all those extra innings they pitched this year so far be to their detriment? Are the Yanks arms fresher (in the case of Severino, who missed most of this season, most definitely so)?
The IP this year (rounded to nearest out):
Greinke 209
Verlander 223
Cole 212
Tanaka 182
Paxton 151
Severino 12.
Who knows if those extra innings take a toll? I hope so.
Hopefully Stanton and Sanchez step up and have a good series, and key for the Yanks could be how Green and Ottavino do.
Since Hicks is coming off the IL, David Hale was DFA’d.
